Some things about imperial ranks...

[Emperor Palpatine]

Firstly, anyone know whether 'Grand Moff' was used in the movie, or was it a title/rank invented by EU writers or added on later by GL? In the movie, he was never verbally addressed as 'Grand Moff Tarkin', but rather, 'Governor Tarkin'. However, since GMoff is supposed to be somewhat like Governor, it might be appropriate.

Also, Moffs are of a higher rank than Admirals.
Why, then, are Grand Moffs lower than Grand Admirals? This always puzzles me. EU writers could have thought of a better rank name.
There are some other ranks with this puzzling 'problem' as well...

Emperor

[YT300000]

Because Grand Admirals are the best of the best of the best. Asides from Vader and the Emperor, only the Supreme Moff had control over them.

Saxton's Rank System Explanation.

[Trytostaydead]

Isn't Moff a civilian rank as well?

[Publius]

Firstly, anyone know whether 'Grand Moff' was used in the movie, or was it a title/rank invented by EU writers or added on later by GL? In the movie, he was never verbally addressed as 'Grand Moff Tarkin', but rather, 'Governor Tarkin'. However, since GMoff is supposed to be somewhat like Governor, it might be appropriate.

Also, Moffs are of a higher rank than Admirals.
Why, then, are Grand Moffs lower than Grand Admirals? This always puzzles me. EU writers could have thought of a better rank name.
There are some other ranks with this puzzling 'problem' as well...

Emperor

The novelisation (Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker) refers to Wilhuff Tarkin in his first appearance as "The Grand Moff Tarkin, Governor of numerous outlying Imperial territories", hence explaining once and for all why the Princess Leia addresses him as "Governor Tarkin".

Specifically, a Grand Moff is a superior quality of governor (in one source, then-Moff Tarkin is actually called "Governor Moff Tarkin"). One is tempted to interpret it as a sort of Cardinalial dignity, especially in light of the fact that not all Moffs are governors -- one Moff Kadir was Commander of Imperial Centre Security in "Betrayal", and some Moffs and Grand Moffs seem to lack portfolio.

As for the rank of grand admiral being superior to that of Grand Moff, it could be something so simple as the GADMs being aides de camp to the Emperor; the Emperor Napoléon's aides de camp were ex officio of superior rank even to his maréchaux de l'Empire, who held what was nominally the highest rank one could attain.

On the other hand, it could be due to any number of reasons to which we are not privy (such as what, precisely, does "Moff" mean?). For example, do you know why a lieutenant is inferior to a major, yet a major-general is inferior to a lieutenant-general? There is a reason, but one not readily obvious to an observer who has not conducted a bit of research into the development of the ranks.

Publius

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

On the other hand, it could be due to any number of reasons to which we are not privy (such as what, precisely, does "Moff" mean?). For example, do you know why a lieutenant is inferior to a major, yet a major-general is inferior to a lieutenant-general? There is a reason, but one not readily obvious to an observer who has not conducted a bit of research into the development of the ranks.

Can you tell me why a major general is inferior to a lieutenant general?

[Sea Skimmer]

Also, Moffs are of a higher rank than Admirals.
Why, then, are Grand Moffs lower than Grand Admirals? This always puzzles me. EU writers could have thought of a better rank name.
There are some other ranks with this puzzling 'problem' as well...

Grand Moffs where actually civilians, they outranked admirals but wouldn't be in the chain of command as I understand. The rank of Grand Admiral is higher because the Emperor created it specifically to take power away from the Moffs and place it in a small number of more loyal individuals.

There where only thirteen Grand Admirals, though Thawn was secret. I don’t think the number of Moffs has ever been listed but there was at least one per sector, a minimal of a thousand total, IIRC.

[Master of Ossus]

Moff was a rank used in the movie ANH, and in the script. I think it is also used in the novel, and if you want I can check. When Leia is introduced to Tarkin on the DS (she apparently already knew him from somewhere), she addresses him as "Moff Tarkin."

Grand Moff is a civilian rank, and is higher than a regional governor. IIRC they are in charge of a large sector. Tarkin is said to be in charge of numerous territories.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Grand Moffs are special commands given to Moffs, which are both the civilian and martial administrators of an Imperial Sector.

Grand Moffs are given control over multiple "Priority Sectors" and all deemed-neccessary Sector Groups. Their dominions were known as Oversectors.

Grand Moff Tarkin controlled the "Oversector Outer" which encompassed much of the Outer Rim Territories.

[Publius]

On the other hand, it could be due to any number of reasons to which we are not privy (such as what, precisely, does "Moff" mean?). For example, do you know why a lieutenant is inferior to a major, yet a major-general is inferior to a lieutenant-general? There is a reason, but one not readily obvious to an observer who has not conducted a bit of research into the development of the ranks.

Can you tell me why a major general is inferior to a lieutenant general?

The original hierarchy of was sergeant, lieutenant, and captain (and later, colonel). When a sergeant or a lieutenant was charged with special duties, he became a sergeant-major or a lieutenant-major (subsequently abbreviated to "major"); when any of the officers was given responsibility for a large formation as a whole, he became the sergeant-major-general, the lieutenant-general, and the captain-general (or colonel-general). "Sergeant-major-general" and "captain-general/colonel-general" were subsequently abbreviated simply to "major-general" and "general", and in the process the lieutenant-general was left senior to the major-general.

Publius

[Emperor Palpatine]

Moff was a rank used in the movie ANH, and in the script. I think it is also used in the novel, and if you want I can check. When Leia is introduced to Tarkin on the DS (she apparently already knew him from somewhere), she addresses him as "Moff Tarkin."

Was it in the credits? Maybe I should check it out.
Leia said "Governor Tarkin"...

Just thought a nicer name would be fit for the Grand Admirals... maybe there are so many ranks, Palpatine couldn't keep track of the correct namings or rank diff. like Admirals lower than Moffs. Strong he is in the Force, but old and senile he has/must have become... that's why he couldn't sense Luke when Vader could.

Palpatine

[Emperor Palpatine]

I've stumbled across this website about Imperial Navy ranks, but it has nothing to do with Star Wars.

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/trisen/so ... ranks.html

However, this site seem a little... unreal. I am not totally sure whether the ranks in this site is really based on actual Earth ranks... I'll check it out further.

Anyway, assuming it is real:

In there, there was a rank of Grand Admiral.

Also, there was also this rank called "Sector Admiral", which made me think whether this is an equivalent of a Moff or Grand Moff? They used Moff to give it a un-earthy feel?
Well, this would make sense. Fleet Admiral is listed below Sector Admiral, which is just like Fleet Admiral is below Grand Moff or Moffs. And Grand admiral is above Sector Admirals, making it above the SW equivalent, the Moffs or Grand Moffs...

*Edit: Oops! The site contains ranks in a game. A science fiction role playing game, I believe. Still...

Thoughts?

Emperor Palpatine

[FTeik]

I can´t remember a Sector-Admiral, but the ISB has a rank of Systems-Admiral (or a Commodore).

The highest-ranking Fleet- or Navy-Officer of a sector would be the Highadmiral.

Sometimes the Moff of a sector is also the Highadmiral of his sector, but not always.

The power of a Moff is limited to his sector of influence. Grandadmirals operate galaxy-wide. Therefor they are superior to Moffs.

[Emperor Palpatine]

As I've said, the thing I've found was actually belonging in a game...

What the thread's topic is about is... why the Moff is above Admirals, yet Grand Moffs are below Grand Admirals. Why name that rank as 'Grand Admiral'? The info posted above seem to clear some things up... even though I doubt Sector admirals exists on earth's navys/navies(?)

The power of a Moff is limited to his sector of influence. Grandadmirals operate galaxy-wide. Therefor they are superior to Moffs.

Is it possible that the Grand Admirals would have no more influence and power than a Grand Moff in his own sector? So, Grand Moffs are the equivalents of Grand Admirals, only that G-Moffs operate in their own sectors. Grand Admirals have the entire galaxy under their control.

Emperor